38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
Crucified criminals were often left unburied, hanging on the cross. Joseph had opposed the council’s decision to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50-51).
And they made His grave with the wicked — but with the rich at His death … (Isaiah 53:9) — literally, “His grave was appointed with the wicked” (what the Jews wanted) “but with the rich man in His death” (Joseph was rich — Matthew 27:57).
Nicodemus (v. 39) — He is mentioned in John 3, in John 7:50 and here. Perhaps he believed after seeing “the Son of Man lifted up.”
myrrh and aloes (v. 39) — a hundred pounds was a large and expensive amount, as would be used for a king’s burial.
Christ’s body didn’t corrupt — Psalm 16:10: For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
tomb (v. 41) — sepulcher carved out of rock
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